Although the Kia EV6 ranks among the best electric cars you can buy in 2024, according to Consumer Reports, some owners have raised concerns about the audio quality of the Meridian sound system. Discussions about the Kia EV6’s sound quality have been ongoing for a while, with one notable thread on the r/KiaEV6 subreddit dating back to 2022. More recently, issues have focused on the Meridian system’s bass output levels.
For 2025, Kia offers a 14-speaker Meridian Premium Audio System in its top-trim GT-Line rear-wheel and all-wheel-drive models. Meridian highlights that it uses proprietary digital signal processing (DSP) technologies designed to “deliver a state-of-the-art listening experience” for Kia owners and passengers. According to Meridian, “Loudspeakers are strategically positioned and seamlessly integrated into the luxury automotive interior, allowing each passenger to enjoy an audio experience of unparalleled quality, no matter where they are in the vehicle.”
However, despite the detailed design, some owners have discovered a flaw in the system’s execution—an out-of-phase rear subwoofer. Rather than pointing fingers, many Kia EV6 owners have taken matters into their own hands by performing a simple rewiring fix that only takes a few minutes.
The core issue lies in the EV6’s subwoofer, which is connected incorrectly. This causes its output to be out-of-phase with the rest of the sound system, somewhat similar to how Active Noise Cancellation technology reduces noise inside the car. As The Drive explains, “It’s not that the subwoofer in the factory Meridian setup is making no bass; it’s just being canceled out by equal and opposite frequencies from other speakers inside the car. Unplug every other sound device and you’ll hear the trunk-mounted sub thud. Plug them back in, though, and they counteract the output from the device.”
Fixing this requires accessing the Meridian subwoofer wire harness located in the trunk. To do so, some trim pieces must be removed. The first piece on the trunk floor can be pulled out without any tools, while a piece closer to the rear hatch is secured by two threaded fasteners, which may require a large flat screwdriver to loosen.
Once the wire harness is exposed, you’ll find a connector with an orange tab. The rewiring process involves carefully removing this orange tab, unpinning the red and black wire pairs on the right side of the connector, and reversing the wires in each pair. This changes the stock red-black-red-black wiring order (from top to bottom) to black-red-black-red, correcting the phase issue with the subwoofer.
Jeff posted a detailed video tutorial of the entire process on their YouTube channel but credits Reddit user nex703’s “Meridian Sound Subwoofer fix” post on the r/KiaEV6 subreddit for the inspiration.
If you’re a Kia EV6 owner experiencing similar audio issues, this quick DIY fix might be all you need to enjoy the full, rich bass your Meridian sound system is designed to deliver.
https://www.jalopnik.com/2006304/kia-ev-6-owners-diy-fix-sound-system/